RF Power Amplifier Controller Circuit Including Calibrated Phase Control Loop

ABSTRACT

An RF power amplifier system comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal. The phase control loop may comprise one or more variable phase delays introducing a relative phase delay to allow the phase differences between the input and output signals of the PA circuit to be within a range compatible with a phase comparator generating the phase error signal, and a low frequency blocking module that removes the larger extent, lower frequency components of the phase error signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pendingU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/764,947, entitled “RF PowerAmplifier with Efficiency Improvement for High Peak to AverageModulation Types,” filed on Feb. 3, 2006; and this application is acontinuation-in-part application of, and claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. § 120 from, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/429,119, entitled “Power Amplifier Controller Circuit,” filed on May4, 2006, the subject matter of both of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a circuit for controlling RF PAs (RadioFrequency Power Amplifiers), and more specifically, to an RF PAcontroller circuit that controls the supply voltage of a PA using aclosed amplitude control loop with an amplitude correction signal.

2. Description of the Related Art

RF (Radio Frequency) transmitters and RF power amplifiers are widelyused in portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptopcomputers, and other electronic devices. RF transmitters and RF poweramplifiers are used in these devices to amplify and transmit the RFsignals remotely. RF PAs are one of the most significant sources ofpower consumption in these electronic devices, and their efficiency hasa significant impact on the battery life on these portable electronicdevices. For example, cellular telephone makers make great efforts toincrease the efficiency of the RF PA systems, because the efficiency ofthe RF PAs is one of the most critical factors determining the batterylife of the cellular telephone and its talk time.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional RF transmitter circuit, including atransmitter integrated circuit (TXIC) 102 and an external poweramplifier (PA) 104. For example, the RF transmitter circuit may beincluded in a cellular telephone device using one or more cellulartelephone standards (modulation techniques) such as UMTS (UniversalMobile Telephony System) or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),although the RF transmitter circuit may be included in any other type ofRF electronic device. For purposes of illustration only, the RFtransmitter circuit will be described herein as a part of a cellulartelephone device. The TXIC 102 generates the RF signal 106 to beamplified by the PA 104 and transmitted 110 remotely by an antenna (notshown). For example, the RF signal 106 may be an RF signal modulated bythe TXIC 102 according to the UMTS or CDMA standard.

The RF power amplifier 104 in general includes an output transistor (notshown) for its last amplification stage. When an RF modulated signal 106is amplified by the RF PA 104, the output transistor tends to distortthe RF modulated signal 106, resulting in a wider spectral occupancy atthe output signal 110 than at the input signal 106. Since the RFspectrum is shared amongst users of the cellular telephone, a widespectral occupancy is undesirable. Therefore, cellular telephonestandards typically regulate the amount of acceptable distortion,thereby requiring that the output transistor fulfill high linearityrequirements. In this regard, when the RF input signal 106 isamplitude-modulated, the output transistor of the PA 104 needs to bebiased in such a way that it remains linear at the peak powertransmitted. This typically results in power being wasted during theoff-peak of the amplitude of the RF input signal 106, as the biasingremains fixed for the acceptable distortion at the peak power level.

Certain RF modulation techniques have evolved to require even morespectral efficiency, and thereby forcing the RF PA 104 to sacrifice moreefficiency. For instance, while the efficiency at peak power of anoutput transistor of the PA 104 can be above 60%, when a modulationformat such as WCDMA is used, with certain types of coding, theefficiency of the RF PA 104 falls to below 30%. This change inperformance is due to the fact that the RF transistor(s) in the RF PA104 is maintained at an almost fixed bias during the off-peak of theamplitude of the RF input signal 106.

Certain conventional techniques exist to provide efficiency gains in theRF PA 104. One conventional technique is EER (Envelope Elimination andRestoration). The EER technique applies the amplitude signal (not shownin FIG. 1) and the phase signal (not shown in FIG. 1) of the RF inputsignal 106 separately to 2 ports of the power amplifier 104, i.e., itssupply voltage port (Vcc) 108 and its RF input port 107, respectively.However, the EER technique often fails to provide significant efficiencygains, because the supply voltage 108 cannot be varied in anenergy-efficient way to accommodate the large variations in theamplitude signal of the RF input signal 106 and thus it fails to providea substantial energy efficiency gain while maintaining the requiredlinear amplification of the RF signal in the RF PA 104. This is mainlydue to the difficulty in realizing a fast, accurate, wide range, andenergy efficient voltage converter to drive the supply voltage of the RFPA 104.

The conventional EER technique can function better only if a variablepower supply with a very large variation range is used to adjust thesupply voltage based on the amplitude signal of the RF input signal 106,while not reducing the efficiency of the RF transmitter by powerconsumed by the power supply itself. However, the variable power supply,which is typically comprised of a linear regulator (not shown in FIG. 1)that varies its output voltage on a fixed current load such as the PA inlinear mode, by principle reduces the supply voltage at constant currentand by itself consumes the power resulting from its current multipliedby the voltage drop across the linear regulator when there is a largedrop in the amplitude signal of the RF input signal 106. This results inno change in the overall battery power being consumed by the RFtransmitter, because any efficiency gained in the RF PA 104 is mostlylost in the linear regulator itself. Variations of the EER technique,such as Envelope Following and other various types of polar modulationmethods, likewise fails to result in any significant gain in efficiencyin the RF transmitter, because the supply voltage is likewise adjustedbased on the amplitude signal of the RF input signal 106 whichinherently has large variations and thus has the same deficiencies asdescribed above with respect to conventional EER techniques.

Quite often, the conventional methods of controlling a PA fail toaddress the amplitude-to-phase re-modulation (AM-to-PM) which occurs ina non-frequency linear device such as a PA. Thus, the conventionalmethods are not suitable for the common types of PAs for use in commonmobile telephony or mobile data systems because the required spectraloccupancy performance is compromised by the AM to PM distortion.

Finally, PAs are typically used in conjunction with band pass filtersthat have a high electric coefficient of quality. These filters aretypically of the SAW (surface acoustic wave) type. Due to their highcoefficient of quality, the filters exhibit a relatively high groupdelay. The group delay makes it very difficult for a correction loop towork around the arrangement of the SAW filter and the PA while stillmeeting the high bandwidth requirements needed for the correction of theAM-to-PM.

Thus, there is a need for an RF PA system that is efficient over a widevariety of modulation techniques and results in a significant netdecrease in power consumption by the RF PA system. There is also a needfor a PA controller that can correct the AM to PM effects, while notrelying on a PA specially designed for low AM to PM at the expense ofefficiency. In addition, there is a need for a PA controller that canexclude the use of SAW filters from the path of the correction loop inthe PA circuitry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention disclosed is a power amplifiercontroller circuit for controlling a power amplifier based upon anamplitude correction signal or amplitude error signal. The poweramplifier receives and amplifies an input signal to the power amplifierand generates an output signal, and the power amplifier controllercircuit controls the power amplifier so that it operates in an efficientmanner.

The PA controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and aphase control loop. The amplitude control loop determines the amplitudecorrection signal (also referred to herein as the amplitude errorsignal), which is indicative of the amplitude difference between theamplitude of the input signal and the attenuated amplitude of the outputsignal, and adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based uponthe amplitude correction signal. The phase control loop determines aphase error signal, which indicates a phase difference between phases ofthe input signal and the output signal, and adjusts the phase of theinput signal based upon the phase error signal to match the phase of theoutput signal. Thus, the phase control loop corrects for unwanted phasemodulation introduced by the AM to PM non-ideality of the poweramplifier and thus reduces phase distortion generated by the poweramplifier.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the amplitude controlloop comprises an amplitude comparator comparing the amplitude of theinput signal with an attenuated amplitude of the output signal togenerate an amplitude correction signal, and a power supply coupled toreceive the amplitude correction signal and generating the adjustedsupply voltage provided to the power amplifier based upon the amplitudecorrection signal. The power supply can be a switched mode power supply.By using the amplitude correction signal to control the supply voltageto the power amplifier, a high-efficiency yet low-bandwidth power supplysuch as the switched mode power supply may be used to provide theadjusted supply voltage to the power amplifier.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the amplitudecorrection signal is split into two or more signals with differentfrequency ranges and provided respectively to different types of powersupplies with different levels of efficiency to generate the adjustedsupply voltage provided to the power amplifier. For example, in thesecond embodiment, the power supplies include a first power supply witha first efficiency and a second power supply with a second efficiencyhigher than the first efficiency. The first power supply receives afirst portion of the amplitude correction signal in a first frequencyrange and generates a first adjusted supply output based upon the firstportion of the amplitude correction signal, and the second power supplyreceives a second portion of the amplitude correction signal in a secondfrequency range lower than the first frequency range and generates asecond adjusted supply output based upon the second portion of theamplitude correction signal. The first and second adjusted supplyoutputs are combined to form the adjusted supply voltage provided to thepower amplifier. The first power supply can be a linear regulator, andthe second power supply can be a switched mode power supply. By dividingthe amplitude correction signal into two or more signals with differentfrequency ranges, the second embodiment of the present invention has theadditional advantage that the switched mode power supply may beimplemented with even narrower bandwidth as compared to the firstembodiment without significantly sacrificing efficiency. A narrowerbandwidth power supply or a variable power supply with a smaller rangeof voltage variation is easier to implement.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, the amplitude controlloop further comprises a gain control module receiving the amplitudecorrection signal to generate a gain control signal, and a variable gainamplifier adjusting the amplitude of the input signal according to thegain control signal. The third embodiment has the advantage that it ispossible to operate the power amplifier at any given depth beyond itscompression point, resulting in an extra degree of freedom in designingthe PA circuit. This is useful in optimizing the efficiency gain versusspectral occupancy performance. By adding the variable gain amplifier,the amplitude of variation of the Vcc or bias voltage to the PA isfurther reduced, resulting in further significant efficiency gains.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the phase control looptypically comprises one or more variable phase delays that introduce arelative phase delay in the phase control loop to allow the phasedifferences between the input and output signals of PA circuit to bewithin a range compatible with a phase comparator that generates thephase error signal. The phase control loop may also additionallycomprise a low frequency blocking module such as a capacitor thatremoves the larger extent, lower frequency components of the phase errorsignal, so that the phase error signal is compatible with the phaseshifter that adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon the phaseerror signal and is typically suitable for correcting smaller extentphase changes occurring at higher frequencies.

The features and advantages described in the specification are not allinclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantageswill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thedrawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selectedto delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional RF transmitter circuit.

FIG. 2 illustrates an RF transmitter circuit including the PA controllerin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates an RF power amplifier system, in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA system, in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates an RF power amplifier system, in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA system, in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an RF power amplifier system, in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA system, in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of controlling the phase control loop of aRF power amplifier system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates simulation results of the changes in the waveform ofthe supply voltage 208 to the PA 104 corresponding to the conventionalpolar control method, the first embodiment of FIG. 3A, and the thirdembodiment of FIG. 5A, for a typical commercial WCDMA PA with 3.4 Vnominal supply voltage and WCDMA modulation using 3.84 Mchips persecond.

FIG. 8 illustrates the simulation results of an example of a time domainwaveform present at the node 509 of FIG. 5A for a typical commercialWCDMA PA with 3.4 V nominal supply voltage and WCDMA modulation using3.84 Mchips per second.

FIG. 9 illustrates the simulation results of an example of a time domainwaveform present at nodes 401 and 403 of FIG. 5A for a typicalcommercial WCDMA PA with 3.4 V nominal supply voltage and WCDMAmodulation using 3.84 Mchips per second.

FIG. 10 illustrates the typical extent and frequency ranges of phasechanges caused by various sources in a RF PA system.

FIG. 11A illustrates an RF power amplifier system, in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B illustrates a variation of the RF power amplifier system inaccordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention in FIG.11A.

FIG. 11C illustrates another variation of the RF power amplifier systemin accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention inFIG. 11A.

FIG. 11D illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11E illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11F illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A

FIG. 11G illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A illustrates a method of setting the phase delay in the variablephase delay(s) in the RF power amplifier systems illustrated in FIGS.11A-11C and 11E-11G, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12B illustrates a method of setting the phase delay in the variablephase delay(s) in the RF power amplifier systems illustrated in FIGS.11A-11C and 11E-11G, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12C illustrates a method of controlling the phase control loop of aRF power amplifier system in accordance with the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The Figures (FIG.) and the following description relate to preferredembodiments of the present invention by way of illustration only. Itshould be noted that from the following discussion, alternativeembodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will bereadily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the claimed invention.

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the presentinvention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingfigures. Wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may beused in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. Thefigures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the invention described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an RF transmitter circuit including the PA controller202 in accordance with the present invention. The PA controller 202 isplaced between the transmitter IC 102 and the PA 104 to receive the RFsignal 204 from the TXIC 102 and provide the RF signal 206 to the PA104, while controlling the PA 104 by way of an adjusted supply voltage208. The PA controller 202 is also placed between the power supply line(Vcc) 210 and the PA 104. The PA 104 amplifies the RF signal 206 tooutput the amplified RF output signal 110, which is also provided as afeedback signal back to the PA controller 202. As will be explainedbelow with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B, the adjustedsupply voltage 208 is generated by the PA controller 202 based on anamplitude correction signal (not shown in FIG. 2) indicative of thedifference between the attenuated amplitude of the feedback RF outputsignal 110 and the amplitude of the RF input signal 204. Note that theterm “amplitude correction signal” is used herein synonymously with theterm “amplitude error signal.” The PA controller 202 adjusts the supplyvoltage (Vcc) 210 based upon the amplitude correction signal to generatethe adjusted supply voltage 208 provided to the PA 104, to optimize theefficiency of the PA 104. An advantage of the PA controller 202 is thatexisting signal connections to the PA 104 and the TXIC 102 need notchange when the PA controller 202 is inserted between the TXIC 102, thePA 104, and the supply voltage (Vcc) 210.

The PA controller circuit 202 may also adjust the phase and amplitude ofthe signal 204 to allow for power control and PA ramping, in accordancewith information received through the configuration signals 209. Sincethe PA controller circuit 202 is aware of the voltage at the output andthe current in the power amplifier 104, it can also adjust for loadvariations at an antenna (not shown herein) that may be used with thePA. If a directional coupler (not shown) is used to feed the attenuatedamplitude of the signal 204, the PA controller 202 can adjust theforward power while controlling the PA operation point as it is aware ofthe voltage and current at node 208.

FIG. 3A illustrates an RF PA system, according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention. The RF PA system includes the PA 104, and the PAcontroller 202 including a closed amplitude control loop and a closedphase control loop.

The phase control loop includes two limiters 312, 314, a phasecomparator 316, a loop filter (PLF (Phase Loop Filter)) 318, and a phaseshifter 320. To achieve stability over all conditions, the phasecomparator 316 is of an adequate type with a capture range greater than2*PI. To achieve this, a combination of adjustable delay elements andfrequency dividers may be used. Also a phase sub-ranging system can beused since the dynamic phase variations that the phase correction loopprocesses are limited in amplitude. A sub-ranging phase control block(not shown) could be one of the constituents of the phase comparator 316used with this system. Advantages of using sub-ranging in the phasecomparator 316 are stability and good noise.

The amplitude control loop includes an adjusted variable attenuator(RFFA (RF Feedback Attenuator)) 306, two matched amplitude detectors302, 304, a comparator 308, and a switched mode power supply (SMPS) 310.Note that the limiter 312 and the detector 302, and the limiter 314 andthe detector 304, can be combined into a single limiter/power detectorblocks without altering the functionality of the system.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the phase control loop monitors the RF inputsignal 204 from the transmitter IC 102 (not shown in FIG. 3A) andcompares the phase of the RF input signal 204 with the phase of theoutput signal 110 of the PA 104 attenuated 326 by the adjusted variableattenuator (RFFA) 306, resulting in a control signal 319 that varies thephase of the RF signal 206 coming out of the phase shifter 320. Morespecifically, the limiter 312 receives the RF input signal 204 from theTXIC 102 and outputs to the comparator 316 an amplitude limited signal324 mathematically representative of the phase of its input signal. Thelimiter 314 also receives the output signal 110 of the PA 104 asattenuated 326 by the adjusted variable attenuator (RFFA) 306, andoutputs its phase signal 325 to the comparator 316. The comparator 316compares the phases of the output signals 324, 325 of the two limiters312, 314, and generates a phase error signal 317. Note that the term“phase error signal” is used herein synonymously with the term “phasecorrection signal.” The phase error signal 317 is filtered by the loopfilter (PLF) 318 to generate the phase control signal 319. The loopfilter 318 completes the phase loop and provides the necessary gain,bandwidth limitation, and loop stability required for the phase loop tofunction properly. The particular loop filter used here can be of anytype, and can include multiple integration and derivation stages so asto satisfy the best loop performance. The types of the loop filter mayinclude classical types I, II, and the like. A particularity of thisphase loop design is that the group delay through the PA 104 must betaken into account for stability reasons. This is achieved by choosingthe proper pole-zero placement in the loop filter and may include delaycompensation. The phase control signal 319 is input to the phase shifter320 to control the shifting of the phase of the input RF signal 206 sothat the phase of the output signal 110 dynamically matches the phase ofthe transmitter signal 204.

The function of the phase control loop is to counteract the AM(Amplitude Modulation) to PM (Phase Modulation) characteristics of thePA 104, which is part of the normal distortion characteristics oftransistor-based amplifiers, allowing for the phase of the RF signal tobe held constant at the output 110 of the PA 104 compared with the input204 of the phase shifter 320 and thus reducing phase distortiongenerated by the PA 104. This phase control loop contributes tolinearizing the PA 104 as the AM to PM phase shift of the PA 104 tendsto become higher at higher power levels. By limiting the effects of AMto PM of the PA 104, the phase control loop allows the PA 104 tofunction at higher power levels with less distortion for the outputsignal 110, thus allowing the use of the PA 104 in more favorableefficiency conditions. In addition, the phase control loop also helps incorrecting any additional AM to PM characteristics that the amplitudecontrol loop (described below) may cause. While FIG. 3A shows the phaseshifter circuit 320 controlling the input to the PA 104, it is alsopossible to place the phase shifter 320 at the output of the PA 104 withthe same benefits.

Note that the phase control loop is of the error correction only type.In other words, the phase control loop does not modify the phase of theinput signal 204 to the PA 104 unless the PA 104 or the amplitudecontrol loop introduces a phase error. Since the noise contributions ofthe feedback loops affect the overall signal quality of the RFtransmitter, an error correction only loop such as the phase controlloop shown in FIG. 3A by definition introduces only a small correction,hence has a low noise contribution.

The amplitude control loop is also of the error correction only type,and thus is referred to herein as the amplitude correction loop. Thus,amplitude control loop and amplitude correction loop are usedsynonymously herein. Referring to FIG. 3A, the amplitude of the RF inputsignal 204 is monitored through the amplitude detector 302 and comparedby the comparator 308 with the amplitude at the output 110 of the PA 104as attenuated 326 by the adjusted variable attenuator (RFFA) 306, seenthrough a matched amplitude detector 304. The attenuator 306 is adjustedsuch that the output 110 of the PA 104 is at a desired level. This canbe achieved though programming 321 the variable attenuator (RFFA) 306 byeither a digital input to the PA controller 202 or by analog control ofthe variable attenuator (RFFA) 306. The comparator 308 generates anerror signal 309 indicating the difference between the amplitude of theinput RF signal 204 and the attenuated amplitude 326 of the output RFsignal 110, referred to herein as the “amplitude correction signal” 309.The amplitude correction signal 309 is fed into power supply 310, whichis a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The SMPS 310 generates an adjustedsupply voltage 208 provided to one or more supply voltage pins of the PA104 based upon the amplitude correction signal 309. The adjusted supplyvoltage 208 in essence operates as a bias control signal that controlsthe operating point of the PA 104.

For a given output power, adjusting the supply voltage 208 of the PA 104has the effect of varying its gain, as well as changing its efficiency.For a given output power, lowering the supply voltage 208 to the PA 104provides better efficiency for the PA 104. The adjusted supply voltage208 of the PA 104 is adjusted to ensure that the PA 104 stays in itsmost efficient amplification zone. Because adjusting the supply voltage208 of the PA 104 does make a change to the gain of the PA 104, theoutput amplitude of the PA 104 changes with the supply voltage 208 fromthe SMPS 310, and the amplitude control loop can be closed. Theprinciples of such operation can be explained as follows.

When the input to the PA 104 increases, the output of the PA 104 alsoincreases. As the PA 104 stays in its linear region of operation, whichcorresponds to small input signals, its output will increase linearlywith its input. Thus, both inputs to the comparator 308 will rise by thesame amount, resulting in no error correction and no change to thesupply voltage 208. This is the case when the output power is relativelysmall and well below the saturation point. As the input power continuesto rise at the input of PA 104, there will be a point beyond which theoutput of the PA 104 will no longer be directly proportional with theinput to the PA 104. The amplitude control loop will detect this errorbetween the output and input of the PA 104, and raise the supply voltageto the PA 104 such that the initially-desired output power is delivered,resulting in linear operation of the system, even with a non-linear PA104.

In a practical application, the PA 104 will be fully or partiallysaturated from its Vcc, for example, the highest 10 dB of its outputpower range, and as the RF modulation of the RF signal 104 forces theamplitude to vary, the amplitude control loop will only be activelycontrolling the supply voltage 208 to the PA 104 when the highest powersare required. For lower input power, the amplitude control loop willleave the supply voltage 208 at a fixed level because it detects no gainerror, resulting in a fixed gain for the PA 104. The depth beyondcompression can be adjusted by setting the level of the input signal 204and the level of the attenuator 306, as well as the default supplyvoltage Vcc (not shown in FIG. 3A) to the PA 104. This behavior isillustrated in FIG. 7 where simulation results compare the behavior ofthe conventional polar architecture (with no feedback) where the supplyvoltage to the PA swings between 0.1 V and 2.9 V and reaches a minimumvalue around 0.1 V as shown with curve 701, while the supply voltage 208to the PA 104 in the first embodiment of FIG. 3A using the amplitudecorrection signal 309 does not drop below 0.5 V as shown with curvelabeled 702. The amplitude swing in the dual gain control method isclearly further reduced as indicated by curve 703, as will be explainedin detail below with respect to the third embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Varying the supply voltage to the PA 104 also results in a phase change.Thus, the phase control loop described above operates in conjunctionwith the amplitude control loop to maintain the accuracy of RFmodulation at the output signal of the PA 104. Note that the phasecontrol loop is also an error correction loop only, and thereforeminimally contributes to noise.

Furthermore, the amplitude correction loop has the advantage that anSMPS 310, which does not consume any significant power by itself andthus actually increases the efficiency of the overall RF power amplifiersystem, can be used to generate the adjusted supply voltage 208 to thePA 104. This is possible because the adjusted supply voltage 208 to thePA 104 is generated by the SMPS 310 based upon the amplitude correctionsignal 309 which by nature has a much narrower range of variation orfluctuation rather than the actual amplitude of the RF input signal 204which by nature has a much wider range of variation or fluctuation. AnSMPS 310 is easier to implement to follow the amplitude correctionsignal 309 with a narrow range of variation, but would be more difficultto implement if it had to follow the unmodified amplitude of the RFinput signal 204. This is related to the fact that the amplitude signalitself has its fastest variations when the amplitude itself is low. Theamplitude correction loop does not need to make any changes to itsoutput when the PA is operating in linear mode. For example, theamplitude correction signal 309 may be only active for the highest 10 dBof the actual output power variation. In contrast, the amplitude signalitself may vary by 40 dB, and varies much faster between −10 dBc to −40dBc than it does between 0 dBc to −10 dBc. Thus the bandwidthrequirements on the SMPS 310, which are coupled with the rate of changeof the voltage, are reduced when an amplitude correction signal 309rather than the amplitude signal itself is used to control the supply ofthe PA 104. The SMPS 310 does not consume any significant power byitself, and thus does not significantly contribute to usage of thebattery power, and actually increases the efficiency of the RF poweramplifier system. In contrast, a conventional polar modulation techniquetypically utilizes the amplitude signal itself to adjust the supplyvoltage to the PA 104, which prevents the use of an SMPS 310 forwideband RF signals because of the higher bandwidth requirements.Therefore, conventional RF power amplifier control systems typically uselinear regulators (rather than an SMPS) to adjust the supply voltage tothe PA 104. Such a linear regulator by itself consumes power resultingfrom its current multiplied by the voltage drop across the linearregulator. When there is a large drop in the amplitude signal, this canresult in significant power being lost and results in none or littlereduction in the overall battery power being consumed by the RFtransmitter. This is because any efficiency gained in the RF PA ismostly lost in the linear regulator itself.

FIG. 3B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA 104 in an RF PA system, according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to both FIGS. 3A and 3B, as the processbegins 352, the comparator 308 compares 354 the amplitude 323 of the RFinput signal 204 with the attenuated amplitude 322 of the RF outputsignal 110 from the PA 104 to generate an amplitude correction signal309. The SMPS 310 generates 358 an adjusted supply voltage 208 providedto the PA 104 based upon the amplitude correction signal 309, and theprocess ends 360.

FIG. 4A illustrates an RF PA system, according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. The RF PA system illustrated in FIG. 4A issubstantially the same as the RF transmitter circuit illustrated in FIG.3A, except that (i) the amplitude correction signal 309 is split intotwo signals, a high frequency amplitude correction signal 401 that isfed into a high frequency path including a linear regulator 402 and alow frequency amplitude correction signal 403 that is fed into a lowfrequency path including an SMPS 404 and that (ii) the outputs of thelinear regulator 402 and the SMPS 404 are combined in the adder block406 to generate the adjusted supply voltage 208 to the PA 104. Forexample, a simple current adding node, a small, high frequencytransformer or other types of active electronic solutions can be used asthe adder block 406. Any other types of power combiner circuits may beused as the adder block 406. The high frequency amplitude correctionsignal 401 is input to the linear regulator 402, which generates thehigh frequency part 405 of the adjusted supply voltage 208. The lowfrequency amplitude correction signal 403 is input to the SMPS 404,which generates the low frequency part 407 of the adjusted supplyvoltage 208. The adder block 406 combines the high frequency part 405and the low frequency part 407 to generate the adjusted supply voltage208 to the PA 104 in order to keep the PA 104 in an efficient operationrange.

The amplitude correction signal 309 is split into the high frequencyamplitude correction signal 401 and the low frequency amplitudecorrection signal 403 using the high pass filter 410 and the low passfilter 411, respectively. The high frequency amplitude correction signal401 comprised of components of the amplitude correction signal 309higher than a predetermined frequency and the low frequency amplitudecorrection signal 403 is comprised of components of the amplitudecorrection signal 309 lower than the predetermined frequency. Thepredetermined frequency used to split the amplitude correction signal309 can be set at any frequency, but is preferably set at an optimumpoint where the efficiency of the overall RF transmitter system becomessufficiently improved. For example, the predetermined frequency can beas low as 1/20th of the spectrally occupied bandwidth for the RF signal.In other embodiments, the predetermined frequency may not be fixed butmay be adjusted dynamically to achieve optimum performance of the RFtransmitter system.

Power consumed by the linear regulator 401 from a power source such as abattery (not shown) for a given control voltage 208 on the PA 104 can beapproximated as follows:P _(bat) ≈I _(pa) ×V _(pa) +Effl×(Vcc−V _(pa))×I _(pa) ≈Effl×Vcc×I _(pa)

with Effl=1.05, which is sufficiently close to 1 to allow for thisapproximation, where P_(bat) is the power from the battery, I_(pa) isthe input current to the PA 104, V_(pa) is the input supply voltage tothe PA 104, and Vcc is the supply voltage of the battery. In addition,power consumed by the SMPS 404 from a power source such as a battery(not shown) for a given control voltage 208 on the PA 104 can beapproximated as follows:P _(bat) =Effs*I _(pa) *V _(pa)

-   -   with Effs=1.1,        and the efficiency of the switch (not shown) in the SMPS        generally exceeding 90%.

If the average input voltage V_(pa) to the PA 104 is significantly lowerthan supply voltage Vcc of the battery, the SMPS 404 achieves much lowerpower consumption. While the linear regulator 402 is generally lessefficient than the SMPS 404, the linear regulator 402 processing thehigh frequency part 401 of the amplitude correction signal 309 does notmake the overall RF PA system inefficient in any significant way,because most of the energy of the amplitude correction signal 309 iscontained in the low frequency part 403 rather than the high frequencypart 401. This is explained below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Using both a high efficiency path comprised of the SMPS 404 carrying thelow frequency portion 403 of the amplitude correction signal 309 and alow efficiency path comprised of the linear regulator 402 carrying thehigh frequency portion 401 of the amplitude correction signal 309 hasthe advantage that it is possible to use an SMPS 404 with a limitedfrequency response. In other words, the SMPS 404 need not accommodatefor very high frequencies but just accommodates for a limited range oflower frequencies of the amplitude correction signal 309, making theSMPS 404 much easier and more cost-effective to implement. Combining theSMPS 404 with the linear regulator 402 enables high bandwidths ofoperation accommodating for full frequency ranges of the amplitudecorrection signal 309 without sacrificing the overall efficiency of theRF PA system in any significant way, since most of the energy of theamplitude correction signal 309 that is contained in the low frequencypart 403 of the amplitude correction signal 309 is processed by the moreefficient SMPS 404 rather than the less efficient linear regulator 402.

For example, Table 1 below illustrates the percentage of energycontained in the various frequency ranges in a hypothetical simple 4QAM(Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) signal used in WCDMA cellulartelephones and the overall efficiency that can be expected to beachieved by the RF transmitter according to the embodiment of FIG. 4Awith the assumptions of the particular operating conditions asillustrated in Table 1. The combined amplitude and phase spectrum is 4MHz wide. TABLE 1 4QAM Signal Above PA current = 100 mA Below 100 KHz(up to Adjusted supply voltage 100 KHz 40 MHz) 208 to PA = 60% of(Through (Through Linear All Vbat on average SMPS 404) Regulator 402)Frequencies Percentage of energy in 83% 17% 100% adjusted supply voltage208 to PA 104 in designated bandwidth Efficiency of conversion 90% 57% 71% at 60% of Vbat Current from battery 66.66 mA 17.85 mA 84.51 mAPower supply system 71% efficiency using high and low bandwidth paths

Despite the extremely narrow bandwidth (100 KHz) of the SMPS 404 shownin the example of Table 1, 71% efficiency in the RF power amplifiersupply system according to the embodiment of FIG. 4A can be expectedunder the above hypothetical conditions by using a 90% efficient SMPS404 combined with a 57% efficient linear regulator 402. This is a verysignificant improvement over conventional PA controller systems thatwould typically use only a linear regulator under the same operatingconditions and thus would be only 57% efficient. By using an SMPS 404with an increased bandwidth, it is possible to improve the efficiency ofthe RF power amplifier even further.

FIG. 4B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA in an RF PA system, in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 4B is explained in conjunction with FIG.4A. Referring to both FIGS. 4A and 4B, as the process begins 452, thecomparator 308 compares 454 the amplitude 323 of the RF input signal 204with the attenuated amplitude 322 of the RF output signal 110 from thePA 104 to generate an amplitude correction signal 309. The low frequencypart 403 of the amplitude correction signal 309 is applied 456 to thehigh efficiency SMPS 404 while the high frequency part 401 of theamplitude correction signal 309 is applied 456 to the low efficiencylinear regulator 402. The supply voltage 208 to the PA 104 is adjusted460 based upon the combination of the outputs 407, 405 of the highefficiency SMPS 404 and the low efficiency linear regulator 402, and theprocess ends 462.

FIG. 5A illustrates an RF PA system, according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention. The RF transmitter system illustrated in FIG. 5Ais substantially the same as the RF transmitter system illustrated inFIG. 4A, except that the gain control block 506 and the variable gainamplifier 502 are added to provide an additional means to control theefficiency of the PA 104 and the overall RF transmitter system. Althoughthe third embodiment of FIG. 5A is illustrated herein as an improvementto the second embodiment of FIG. 4A, note that the same concepts of thethird embodiment of FIG. 5A can also be used to improve the firstembodiment of FIG. 3A.

More specifically, the gain control block 506 receives the amplitudecorrection signal 309 and adjusts the gain of the variable gainamplifier 502 based upon the amplitude correction signal 309, as well aspassing the low frequency and high frequency parts 403, 401 of theamplitude correction signal 309 to the SMPS 404 and the linear regulator402, respectively, to generate the adjusted supply voltage 208 asexplained above with reference to FIG. 4A. By monitoring the amplitudeof the amplitude correction signal 309 input to the gain control block506, a control signal 504 is created to further compensate the gain ofthe variable gain amplifier 502 before the PA 104. This arrangementallows the use of even lower bandwidth for the PA controller system ascompared to that of the second embodiment described in FIG. 4A above.Also the programmability of the output power can now be entirely left tothe PA controller 202, while in the embodiment of FIG. 4A changing theoutput power required a change in gain in the transmitter IC 102.

With the addition of the variable gain amplifier 502 and the gaincontrol block 506, it is possible to use the PA 104 at any given depthbeyond its compression point. The term “depth beyond compression” isused herein to refer to the difference between the averaged inputcompression level of the PA 104 and the actual averaged input power atthe PA 104. For instance, when the peak output power is required, theinput to the PA 104 can be overdriven by 10 dB beyond the 1 dBcompression point of the PA 104. It is also possible to adjust thesupply voltage of the PA 104 at the instant when the peak power isrequired, such that the 1 dB compression point is set higher and it isonly necessary to overdrive the PA 104 input by 3 dB to obtain the sameoutput peak power. A dynamic adjustment of both the input level and thesupply voltage allows this loop system to reduce significantly furtherthe amplitude of the control voltage 208.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, the independent programming of gain andcompression point by the closed amplitude control loop also makes itpossible to reduce the amount of high frequency energy that the powersupply system (linear regulator) has to deliver to the PA 104. This canbe done by having the variable gain amplifier 502 correct for some ofthe gain error at a higher speed than the Vcc control loop (closed onnode 208) can do, thus reducing the amount of correction that is to bedone by the low efficiency, high frequency branch (linear regulator401). Thus, the bandwidth of the signals at nodes 208 and 504 can bemade to be significantly different. Since only a small fraction of theenergy resides at high frequencies, there is only a small penalty inefficiency for reducing the bandwidth of the control at node 208relative to the bandwidth at node 504. The ratio of the two activebandwidths is part of the design trade-off for the whole system. Thegain control block 506 adjusts the compression point while the gain loopremains closed through the variable gain amplifier 502. This allows theRF controller system to search an optimum depth beyond compression (asmeasured by the absolute value of the amplitude correction signal 309 oralternatively by the averaged value of the gain control 504) andefficiency with less effect on the resulting signal quality. The searchfor the optimum depth beyond compression can be made by a slow controlloop which monitors the absolute value of the amplitude correctionsignal 309, as well as its derivative. Another alternative is to monitorthe averaged value of the gain control signal 504. In order to controlthe relative action of both amplitude controls 504 and 208, and inparticular control the maximum voltage at node 208, a control system forthe compression level of the variable gain amplifier 502 can beimplemented. Because in the embodiment of FIG. 5A both the supplyvoltage 208 to the PA 104 and the input 508 to the PA 104 can beadjusted, this embodiment inherently offers greater flexibility indesign by exploiting two sources of signal information for control. Thisallows to further reduce the amplitude of the variation of the voltagecontrol signal 208, as shown on FIG. 7, where the voltage with thesmallest variation is the signal labeled 703, corresponding to thisthird embodiment of FIG. 5A.

In addition, the third embodiment of FIG. 5A is also well suited toprocess directly a polar representation of the RF signal. In this case,an amplitude signal from the TXIC 102 would couple to the amplitudedetector 302 and a phase only signal from the TXIC 102 would be coupledto the variable gain amplifier 502 and the limiter 312.

FIG. 5B illustrates a method of controlling the amplitude control loopof a RF PA in an RF transmitter system, in accordance with the thirdembodiment of the present invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 5Bis substantially the same as the method illustrated in FIG. 4B, exceptthat step 512 is added. In step 512, the input signal 508 to the PA 104is adjusted, by use of a variable gain amplifier 502, based upon theamplitude correction signal 309. Therefore, the method of FIG. 5B isprovided with an additional means for controlling the efficiency of thePA 104 and the overall RF PA system.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of controlling the phase control loop of aRF PA in an RF PA system in accordance with the present invention. Thephase control method of FIG. 6 can be used with any one of the methodsof controlling the amplitude correction loops described in FIGS. 3B, 4B,and 5B, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A. The method of FIG. 6 will beexplained in conjunction with FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A. As the processbegins 602, the comparator 316 compares 604 the phase of the RF inputsignal 204 with the phase of the attenuated RF output signal 326 fromthe PA 104 to generate the phase error signal 317. The phase errorsignal 316 is filtered 606 by the loop filter (PLF) 318 to generate thephase control signal 319. The phase of the input RF signal 204 isshifted 608 based upon the phase control signal 319 so that thedifference between the phase of the input signal 204 and the phase ofthe output RF signal 110 is held constant, and the process ends 610.

FIG. 7 illustrates simulation results of the changes in the waveform ofthe supply voltage 208 to the PA corresponding to the conventional polarcontrol method, the first embodiment of FIG. 3A, and the thirdembodiment of FIG. 5A, for a typical commercial WCDMA PA with 3.4 Vnominal supply voltage and WCDMA modulation using 3.84 Mchips persecond. As explained previously, the adjusted supply voltage 208generated by a conventional polar system as indicated by curve 701varies the most with wide fluctuations, the adjusted supply voltage 208generated by the first embodiment of FIG. 3A as indicated by curve 702varies less than the curve 701, and the adjusted supply voltage 703generated by the third embodiment of FIG. 5A varies the least with onlya little fluctuation.

FIG. 8 illustrates the simulation results of an example of a time domainwaveform present at node 509 (which voltage would be the same as thevoltage at node 309) of FIG. 5A, and FIG. 9 illustrates the simulationresults of an example of a time domain waveform present at nodes 401 and403 of FIG. 5A, both for a typical commercial WCDMA PA with 3.4 Vnominal supply voltage and WCDMA modulation using 3.84 Mchips persecond. The loop voltage versus time on FIG. 8 shows that the loopsmaintain a voltage much lower than 2.5 V most of the time, except forsome short instants. This is due to the signal's amplitudecharacteristics which require high peaks but a much lower average. InFIG. 9, the voltages 401 and 403 are shown. They correspond to thevoltage 309 (or 509) after filtering by a 100 kHz high pass filter 410and a 100 kHz low pass filter 411, respectively. It can be seen that thelow pass filtered signal 403 is almost a DC signal of value 1.9 V, whilethe high pass filtered signal 401 is a band limited waveform having alow DC value and an rms value of only 0.2V. If the 1.9V is generatedwith an efficiency of 90% by an easy-to-realize low output bandwidthSMPS 404, and the 0.2V is generated with an efficiency of 60% using alinear amplifier 402, the signal 309 can be generated with a combinedefficiency of (1.9+0.2)/(1.9/0.9+0.2/0.6)=87.5%. This is much betterthan generating the signal 309 using a linear regulator with an averageefficiency of (1.9/3.4)/1.05=53%. While it should be understood that thecalculations presented herein are engineering approximations, thepotential benefit in battery life is clearly apparent through thisexample.

FIG. 10 illustrates the typical extent and frequency range of phasechanges caused by various sources in a RF PA system. Phase changes inthe RF PA system can be caused by a variety of factors, includingchanges in the output impedance of the antenna driven by the PA, changesin the output power level of the RF PA system, changes in the type ofmodulation being employed in the RF input signal, and AM to PM (changesin phase that are induced by changes in the signal amplitude asexplained above). In addition, other attributes of the RF PA system,such as the carrier frequency and the operating temperature of the PA,may also affect phase changes. Referring to FIG. 10, phase changes 1084in the RF PA system caused by AM to PM are typically different fromphase changes 1082 caused by other factors such as changes in the outputimpedance of the antenna driven by the PA, changes in the output powerlevel of the RF PA system, changes in the center frequency beingemployed in the RF input signal in at least two critical respects.First, AM to PM phase distortion 1084 occurs across a much wider rangeof frequencies than the frequencies in which other phase changes 1082occur, as it is related to changes in the signal amplitude that occur atthe symbol rate of the RF PA system. By contrast, the phase changes 1082induced by the other non-AM to PM factors occur at much lowerfrequencies. For example, in a mobile telephone, the load on thetransmit antenna can change as the user alters the relative positions ofthe mobile telephone, the position of his hand when holding thetelephone, and the proximity of the phone to the user's head. Thesechanges typically occur at frequencies many orders of magnitude lowerthan the AM to PM changes. Second, as shown in FIG. 10, AM to PM phasechanges 1084 induce phase perturbations that are generally small inextent, limited to for example no more than +/−15 degrees. Thiscontrasts with the phase changes 1082 induced by the other factors whichare much larger.

The phase control loop illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 3A, 4A,and 5A actively determines the phase error between the RF input signaland the RF output signal, and uses this information to modify the RFinput signal to mitigate the phase distortion. The phase control loop ofFIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A can be improved by recognizing that the phasechange in the RF input/output signals is caused by different sources todifferent extents at different frequency ranges as explained above withreference to FIG. 10 and adding more targeted circuit elements forcorrecting the phase error in the different frequency ranges.

FIG. 11A illustrates an RF power amplifier system, in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention. The RF PA system illustratedin FIG. 11A is substantially the same as the RF PA system illustrated inFIG. 5A, except that the phase control loop includes additionalelements, i.e., the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 and the lowfrequency blocking module 1006. Note that FIG. 11A also shows that theRF input signal 204 and the RF output signal 110 can be sensed throughcouplers 1010, 1012. This configuration is considered largely equivalentto the direct connection shown in FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A, for the purposesof illustration of this embodiment, and is added here only for clarity,and coupled signals 1016 and 1020 are described as equivalent to the RFinput signal 204 and the RF output signal 110, respectively. Althoughthe fourth embodiment of FIG. 11A is illustrated herein as animprovement to the third embodiment of FIG. 5A, note that the sameconcepts of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 11A can also be used toimprove the first and second embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 4A,respectively.

The phase control loop shown in FIG. 11A exploits the differences infrequency of the phase changes caused by AM to PM and other sources.This is achieved by the low frequency blocking module 1006 which allowsthe high frequency components 1024 of the phase error signal 317 to passthrough the low frequency blocking module 1006, while blocking the lowfrequency components of the phase error signal 317. The smaller extentphase changes caused by AM to PM at frequencies higher than Fc (FIG. 10)are passed on to and corrected by the phase shifter 320. In this regard,Fc (FIG. 10) represents the frequency below which frequency componentsare attenuated when passed on to the phase shifter 320. Reducing theaction of the phase control loop at frequencies lower than Fc does notadversely affect the performance of the phase control loop, because (i)the frequencies below Fc typically represent a very small bandwidthcompared with the modulation bandwidth of the RF PA system that wouldnot substantially affect the modulation, and (ii) the receivercorresponding to the RF PA system already handles phase changes due toimpedance mismatch, output level changes, modulation changes, andDoppler shifts and thus is generally tolerant with respect to slowchanges. In addition, although the phase shifter 320 and the PA 104 areillustrated as separate elements in FIG. 11A, note that the phaseshifter 320 can be included within the PA 104 itself as illustrated withthe dotted box 1008 in FIG. 11A.

Using the low frequency blocking module 1006 improves the performance ofthe phase control loop of the RF PA system of the fourth embodiment ofFIG. 11A. This is because the phase shifter 320 is typically capable ofoperating over a relatively narrow range, for example +/−20 degrees, buthas better noise properties and lower insertion loss than thoseoperating over a wider range, for example +/−90 degrees. The lowfrequency blocking module 1006 filters out the large phase changesoccurring in a low frequency range, and allows the relatively smallphase changes due to AM to PM occurring at a higher frequency range tobe passed onto the phase shifter 320. The small phase changes due to AMto PM are well within the operating range (e.g., +/−20 degrees) of thephase shifter 320. Without the low frequency blocking module 1006, thephase shifter 320 would also be burdened with the task of correcting thelarge phase changes occurring in a low frequency range, which may bebeyond the operating range (e.g., +/−20 degrees) of the phase shifter320.

The low frequency blocking module 1006 has another benefit under someconditions. Some commonly used code-division multiple access cellularradio standards do not allow more than 30 degrees of phase discontinuityin the modulation when the level of the output power is going up anddown according to the inner loop power control (base station). Note thatthe phase control loop may be configured to turn on and off as the PAoutput power is turned on or off (below a certain level), which couldcause a phase glitch. However, the low frequency blocking module 1006would prevent such phase glitch from occurring even when the phasecontrol loop is turned on and off.

In one embodiment, the low frequency blocking module 1006 may beimplemented using a capacitor. The value of the capacitance of thecapacitor may be set to determine the frequency Fc (FIG. 10).Alternatively, the low frequency blocking module 1006 may be a filter,which passes only the phase changes due to AM to PM occurring at ahigher frequency range. Alternatively, the low frequency blocking module1006 may be combined with the phase loop filter 318, such that thecombined frequency response of the low frequency blocking module 1006and the phase loop filter 318 attenuates the phase changes belowfrequency Fc. In still another example, the low frequency blockingmodule 1006 may comprise a summing node, into which an adjustable DClevel may be added to ensure that the phase shifter 320 operates in thecenter of its range, with the DC level adjusted with enough regularityto keep the phase shifter 320 centered during large phase changesoccurring in a low frequency range. In this case, for example, the DClevel at the output of the phase detector 316 may be periodicallymeasured and a compensating DC voltage subtracted at the summing node bya DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

Note that the phase comparator (also referred to herein as phasedetector) 316 generally has a relatively wide operating range, forexample, +/−90 degrees about a center point, which in this example maybe 90 degrees. For most effective operation, it is desired that the RFPA system be configured so that at a desired transmission frequency ofthe RF signal under normal operating conditions the phase differencebetween the two RF inputs 324 and 325 to the phase comparator 316 isnear the center point of the phase comparator 316 (in this example 90degrees), which would result in a phase error signal 317 ofapproximately zero. The benefit to centering the operating point of thephase comparator 316 in this way is that the AM to PM distortion thatoccur during transmission leads to relative phase variations to thephase comparator input signals 1018 (324), 1022 (325) that remain withinthe operating range of the phase comparator 316. It is typically notpossible to achieve a phase difference equal to exactly the center pointof the phase comparator 316 (in this example 90 degrees) between the RFinputs 324 and 325 to the phase comparator 316, because this wouldrequire a phase difference close to 90 degrees between the RF inputsignal 204 and the RF output signal 110, which may not naturally occur.For RF PA systems designed for use only at a single frequency or anarrow band of frequencies, this can be handled by ensuring that theappropriate relative phase delays are present in the paths leading fromthe RF PA input 204 and the RF PA output 110 to the respective twoinputs 324, 325 of the phase comparator 316. In the fourth embodiment ofFIG. 11A, the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 introduce the appropriatephase delay in the phase control loop to enable the phase comparator 316to remain within its operating range using the phase shifter 320 andcenter a relative phase difference near the center point of the phasecomparator 316 (in this example approximately 90 degrees) between the RFinput signal 324 and the RF output signal 325.

Methods of setting the amount of relative phase delay to be introducedby the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 are explained below withreference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. Once the amount of relative phase delayto be introduced is determined, the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 areset such that appropriate phase delays are respectively introduced tothe RF input signal 1016 and the RF output signal 1020 by the variablephase delays 1002, 1004, respectively, to achieve the relative phasedifference near the center point of the phase comparator 316 (in thisexample approximately 90 degrees) between the RF input signal 324 (i.e.,the adjusted RF input signal 1018) and the RF output signal 325 (i.e.,the adjusted RF output signal 1022) when entering the phase comparator316. As will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 11B, 11C, 11F,and 11G, although two variable phase delay elements 1002, 1004 are shownin FIG. 11A, note that any other number of variable phase delay elements(e.g., one, three, or more) may be included in the phase control loop solong as the appropriate relative phase difference between the adjustedRF input signal 1018 and the adjusted RF output signal 1022 is achieved.

FIG. 11B illustrates a variation of the RF power amplifier system inaccordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention in FIG.11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11B issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11A, except that there is only one variable phase delay 1004coupled to the RF output signal 1020 to introduce the phase delay in thephase control loop and achieve the appropriate relative phase differencebetween the adjusted RF input signal 1018 and the adjusted RF outputsignal 1022.

FIG. 11C illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11C issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11A, except that there is only one variable phase delay 1002coupled to the RF input signal 1016 to introduce the phase delay in thephase control loop and achieve the appropriate relative phase differencebetween the adjusted RF input signal 1018 and the adjusted RF outputsignal 1022.

FIG. 11D illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11C issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11A, except that there is no variable phase delay coupled to the RFinput signal 1016 or the RF output signal 1020. The RF PA system of FIG.11D can be used when it is known that the phase difference between theRF input signal 1016 and the RF output signal 1020 is within theoperating range of the phase comparator 316. Alternatively, the phasecomparator 316 may be designed to accommodate a larger operating rangethan, for example, +/−90 degrees, and therefore not require variablephase delays. For example, the phase comparator 316 may comprise morethan one internal phase comparator (not shown), each operating within arange of +/−90 degrees, but together operating across a larger range ofphases.

FIG. 11E illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11E issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11A, except that there is no low frequency blocking module 1006.The RF PA system of FIG. 11E can be used instead of the RF PA system inFIG. 11A when the phase control loop is not subject to large phasechanges at lower frequencies caused by non-AM to PM factors or when thephase shifter 320 has a wide operating range that can accommodate thelarge phase changes occurring at lower frequencies.

FIG. 11F illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11E issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11B, except that there is no low frequency blocking module 1006.The RF PA system of FIG. 11E can be used instead of the RF PA system inFIG. 11B when the phase control loop is not subject to large phasechanges at lower frequencies caused by non-AM to PM factors or when thephase shifter 320 has a wide operating range that can accommodate thelarge phase changes occurring at lower frequencies.

FIG. 11G illustrates still another variation of the RF power amplifiersystem in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 11A. The RF power amplifier system illustrated in FIG. 11G issubstantially the same as the RF power amplifier system illustrated inFIG. 11C, except there is no low frequency blocking module 1006. The RFPA system of FIG. 11G can be used instead of the RF PA system in FIG.11C when the phase control loop is not subject large phase changes atlower frequencies caused by non-AM to PM factors or when the phaseshifter 320 has a wide operating range that can accommodate the largephase changes occurring at lower frequencies.

FIG. 12A illustrates a method of setting the phase delay in the one ormore variable phase delay(s) in the RF power amplifier systemsillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C and 11E-11G, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. During a calibration phase, the one or morevariable phase delays 1002, 1004 are set to ensure that the phasedifference between the input signals 324 and 325 to the phase comparator316 is near the center point of the phase comparator 316 (in thisexample approximately 90 degrees) and the phase error signal 317 outputfrom the phase comparator 316 is approximately zero. Note that othertarget phase differences between the input signals 324 and 325 to thephase comparator 316 may be used depending upon the type of the phasecomparator 316.

Referring to FIG. 12A, as the process begins 1202, a center frequency isset 1204. The center frequency is the frequency around which the RF PAsystem will operate and is set based upon the wireless communicationstandard (e.g., WCDMA) employed for communication in the RF PA system.Additionally, the RF PA may be set 1205 to operate at a particularoutput power level. The method of FIG. 12A is performed to set aparameter (VarDel) used as the relative delay offset in the phasecontrol loop seen as an offset of phase difference across the inputs tothe phase comparator 316, and thus to set the one or more variable phasedelays 1002, 1004 accordingly. In step 1206, VarDel is initialized, forexample, set to zero. Note that the “delay” for the one or more variablephase delays 1002, 1004 herein is the total relative differential delayintroduced at the inputs 324, 325 to the phase comparator 316 by the oneor more variable phase delays 1002, 1004 in the phase control loopregardless of how many variable phase delays 1002, 1004 are present inthe phase control loop. Thus, if there are two variable phase delays1002, 1004, “delay” is the relative delay introduced by the two variablephase delays 1002, 1004 combined. However, if there is only one variablephase delay 1002 or 1004, then the “delay” is what is introduced by thesingle variable phase delay component 1002 or 1004. Then, it isdetermined 1208 whether the phase control loop is apparently locked. Onetest to determine whether the phase control loop is apparently locked isto check whether the output phase error signal 317 of the phasecomparator 316 is approximately centered within its operating range. Ifthe phase control loop is apparently locked in step 1208, VarDel ischanged in step 1210 by a predetermined amount “Step_1” (e.g., 90degrees), thereby ensuring that the subsequent steps in the method ofFIG. 12A start from a condition where the phase control loop is notlocked. Ensuring that the phase control loop is not locked eliminatesthe possibility that the phase control loop is in an inverted condition,or “false lock,” as will be explained later.

If the phase control loop is not locked in step 1208, then the processof adjusting the parameter VarDel, and thus the “delay” for the one ormore variable phase delays 1002, 1004, can begin. First, the polarity ofthe phase comparator output 317 is checked 1211. If the polarity of thephase comparator output 317 indicates excessive delay (positive), VarDelis decremented 1212 by predetermined amount “Step_2” (e.g., 45 degrees).Similarly, if the polarity of the phase comparator output 317 indicatesinsufficient delay (negative), VarDel is incremented 1213 by thepredetermined amount “Step_2” (e.g., 45 degrees). In this case,incrementing VarDel means increasing the value of “delay,” anddecrementing VarDel means decreasing the value of “delay.” Then, anothercheck is made 1214 to determine whether the phase control loop isapparently locked. Steps 1212 and 1213 are performed using therelatively large increment value Step_2 to determine generally in whatrange the appropriate phase delay for the phase control loop is. Thus,steps 1212 or 1213, and step 1214 are relatively coarse searching stepsin search for the appropriate VarDel value. If the phase control loop isapparently locked in step 1214, the current value of VarDel is saved instep 1222 as the phase delay to use for the current output power leveland center frequency. If the phase control loop is not apparently lockedin step 1214, it is determined in step 1216 whether the phase comparator316 flipped polarity, i.e., whether the phase error signal 317 has anopposite polarity relative to its value prior to the decrease orincrease of Step_2 in step 1212 or 1213, respectively. If the polarityof the phase error signal 317 is determined in step 1216 to haveflipped, this means that decrementing or incrementing Step_2 in step1212 or step 1213 caused the phase control loop to overshoot theappropriate phase delay value that would have resulted in a lockedcondition. Thus, the appropriate VarDel value can be obtained byadjusting the VarDel value by a small amount smaller than Step_2 in adirection opposite to the direction of adjustment of Step_2. Toaccomplish this, VarDel is either incremented (if it was previouslydecremented in step 1212) or decremented (if it was previouslyincremented in step 1213) in steps of a predetermined value “Step_3”(e.g., 6 degrees) smaller than Step_2 until it is determined 1220 thatthe phase control loop is locked, at which point the corresponding valueof VarDel is saved in step 1222 as the phase delay to use for thecurrent output power level and center frequency. The value of “Step_3”is set to be small enough so that the phase control loop can achievelock without overshoot as VarDel is stepped. As before, incrementingVarDel means increasing the value of “delay,” and decrementing VarDelmeans decreasing the value of “delay.” Note that steps 1218 and 1220 arerelatively fine searching steps in search for the appropriate VarDelvalue. If the polarity of the phase error signal 317 did not flip instep 1216, the process goes back to step 1211 and step 1212 or step 1213to adjust VarDel by Step_2 (e.g., 45 degrees) again, and the subsequentsteps 1214, 1216, 1218, 1220, 1222 are repeated as necessary. In step1222, after obtaining the appropriate value of phase delay to beintroduced to the phase control loop of the RF PA system for the centerfrequency and the output power level, the variable phase delay(s) 1002,1004 are set accordingly to introduce such relative phase delay in thephase control loop. For cases where the phase of the RF PA does notchange substantially when operating at different output power levels,the calibration procedure of steps 1205 through 1222 can be performed ata single output power level. However, if the phase of the RF PA doeschange substantially when operating at difference output power levels,and thus there are more output power levels to set phase delays for(step 1223), the process returns to step 1205 to repeat steps 1205through 1222 for a different output power level, and the appropriatesettings for the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 are stored 1222separately for each of the output power levels, at the currently setcenter frequency. Such settings are recalled in accordance with theoutput power level being used with the RF PA system. Similarly, forcases where the operating frequency range is narrow, for example,1920-1980 MHz, the calibration procedure of steps 1204 through 1222 canbe performed at a single center frequency and the process may end 1226.However, if the RF PA system must operate across a wide range offrequencies and thus there are more frequencies to set phase delays for(step 1224), the process returns to step 1204 to repeat steps 1204through 1222 for a different center frequency.

FIG. 12B illustrates another method of setting the phase delay in theone or more variable phase delay(s) in the RF power amplifier systemsillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C and 11E-11G, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12B, as theprocess begins 1232, a center frequency is set 1234. Additionally, theRF PA may be set 1235 to operate at a particular output power level. Themethod of FIG. 12B is performed to set a parameter (VarDel) used as therelative delay offset in the phase control loop, seen as an offset ofphase difference across the inputs to the phase comparator 316, and toset the one or more variable phase delays 1002, 1004 accordingly. Instep 1236, VarDel is initialized, for example, set to zero. Again, notethat the “delay” for the one or more variable phase delays 1002, 1004herein is the total relative delay introduced by the one or morevariable phase delays 1002, 1004 in the phase control loop regardless ofhow many variable phase delays 1002, 1004 are present in the phasecontrol loop. Then, it is determined 1237 whether the phase control loopis apparently locked. As explained above, one test to determine whetherthe phase control loop is apparently locked is to check whether theoutput phase error signal 317 of the phase comparator 316 isapproximately centered within its operating range. If the phase is notapparently locked in step 1237, the polarity of the phase comparatoroutput 317 is checked 1238. If the polarity of the phase comparatoroutput 317 indicates excessive “delay” (positive), VarDel is decremented1239 by Step_4 (e.g., 10 degrees). Similarly, if the polarity of thephase comparator output 317 indicates insufficient “delay” (negative),VarDel is incremented 1240 by Step_4 (e.g., 10 degrees). Then, a check1237 is made again to determine whether phase control loop is apparentlylocked. If not, steps 1238 and 1239 or 1240 are repeated until it isdetermined 1237 that the phase control loop is apparently locked, atwhich time the value of VarDel is saved 1242 in the parameterVarDel_Candidate as the tentative relative delay to be introduced in thephase control loop.

In determining the appropriate settings for the one or more variablephase delay elements 1002, 1004, care must be taken to ensure that thephase control loop is not in an inverted condition, which is oftenreferred to as a “false lock” condition, in which the phase comparator316 would cause the phase shifter 320 to adjust in precisely theopposite of the appropriate direction. An inverted condition can arisebecause the phase comparator 316 generally operates with a limited rangeof phase difference at its inputs 324, 325. In this example, this rangemay be limited to approximately +/−90 degrees about a center point,which may be at 90 degrees. If the phase difference at 324, 325 is −90degrees, which in this example is 180 degrees offset from the centerpoint of 90 degrees, the phase comparator 316 can generate a zero signalat its output 317 indicating that the phase is locked when in fact thephase comparator 316 is in an inverted condition. Steps 1244, 1246,1248, 1250 deal with ensuring that the phase control loop is not in aninverted condition. To accomplish this, VarDel is changed 1244 by apredetermined amount, Offset_Check. Offset_Check may be typically amoderate amount (e.g., 20 degrees), and VarDel may be changed in eitherdirection (either incremented or decremented). Then, the behavior of thephase comparator 316 is observed to test for an expected polarity for agiven polarity of Offset_Check. If the phase control loop was in aninverted condition with VarDel_Candidate applied, the polarity of thephase error signal 317 output from the phase comparator 316 would be ata polarity opposite to the expected polarity if the phase control loopwas in a normal, non-inverted condition. Thus, step 1246 tests whetherthe value of VarDel_Candidate resulted in the phase control loop'sproper locked condition, or an inverted condition. It is important thatthe magnitude of Offset_Check is large enough to ensure a reliablemeasurement of the polarity—e.g., substantially larger than noise levelsin the circuit. If it is determined that the phase control loop isoperating in an inverted condition in step 1246, VarDel is adjusted 1248by another predetermined amount “Step_5” (e.g., 180 degrees) and theprocess goes back to step 1238 with this new VarDel value. The value ofStep_5 may be set to be approximately 180 degrees since in this examplean inverted condition occurs when the phase delay in the phase controlloop is offset from a non-inverted condition by approximately 180degrees. If it is determined that the phase control loop is operating ina proper non-inverted locked condition in step 1246, the value ofVarDel_Candidate is stored 1250 as the final relative phase delay to beintroduced to the phase control loop of the RF PA system for that outputpower level and center frequency, and the variable phase delay(s) 1002,1004 are set accordingly to introduce such relative phase delay in thephase control loop. For cases where the phase of the RF PA does notchange substantially when operating at different output power levels,the calibration procedure of steps 1235 through 1250 can be performed ata single output power level. However, if the phase of the RF PA doeschange substantially when operating at difference output power levels,and thus there are more output power levels to set phase delays for(step 1251), the process returns to step 1235 to repeat steps 1235through 1250 for a different output power level, and the appropriatesettings for the variable phase delays 1002, 1004 are stored 1250separately for each of the output power levels, at the currently setcenter frequency. Such settings are recalled in accordance with theoutput power level being used with the RF PA system. Similarly, forcases where the operating frequency range is narrow, for example,1920-1980 MHz, the calibration procedure of steps 1234 through 1250 canbe performed at a single center frequency and the process may end 1254.If the RF PA system must operate across a wide range of frequencies andthus there are more frequencies to set phase delays for (step 1252), theprocess returns to step 1234 to repeat steps 1234 through 1250 for adifferent center frequency.

FIG. 12C illustrates a method of controlling the phase control loop of aRF power amplifier system in accordance with the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G. The method of FIG.12C is substantially the same as the method of controlling the phasecontrol loop as described in FIG. 6, except that steps 1260 and step1262 are added. In step 1260, the phases of the RF input signal 1016and/or the RF output signal 1020 are adjusted using one or both of thevariable phase delays 1002, 1004 to introduce the relative phase delayas determined in step 1222 (FIG. 12A) or step 1250 (FIG. 12B) in thephase control loop and make the phase difference between the inputsignals 324, 325 to the phase comparator 316 compatible with theoperating range of the phase comparator 316. In addition, in step 1262the low frequency components of the phase error signal 317 areoptionally filtered out and removed by the low frequency blocking module1006, so that the phase shifter 320 only corrects smaller extent phasechanges occurring in the high frequency ranges.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for theRF power amplifier controller through the disclosed principles of thepresent invention. For example, although the embodiment in FIG. 4Bsplits the amplitude correction signal 309 into two frequency ranges, itis possible to split the amplitude correction signal 309 into more thantwo different frequency ranges for separate processing by adjustablepower supply components. The power amplifier controller circuit can beused with any type of power amplifier for many different types ofelectronic devices, although the embodiments are described herein withrespect to a RF PA controller used in cellular telephone applications.Examples of these applications include video signals and Manchestercoded data transmissions. For another example, digital techniques can beused to process some of the signals of the PA system described herein.Whether a signal is represented in an analog form or a digital form willnot change the functionality or principles of operation of amplitude andphase control loops of the PA system according to various embodiments ofthe present invention. For instance, based on the observation of theamplitude error signal 309, one could calculate a typical transferfunction for the PA 104 and construct the signals that drive the PA atnodes 206, 208, which is still a form of closed loop control.

Thus, while particular embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the precise construction andcomponents disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes andvariations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may bemade in the arrangement, operation and details of the method andapparatus of the present invention disclosed herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system, comprising: a poweramplifier coupled to receive and amplify an RF input signal to generatean RF output signal; and a power amplifier controller including: anamplitude control loop determining an amplitude correction signalindicative of an amplitude difference between an amplitude of the RFinput signal and an attenuated amplitude of the RF output signal andadjusting a supply voltage or bias to the power amplifier based upon theamplitude correction signal; and a phase control loop comprising: aphase comparator comparing the phase of the RF input signal with thephase of the RF output signal to generate a phase error signalindicative of a phase difference between phases of the RF input signaland the RF output signal; a phase shifter coupled to the poweramplifier, the phase shifter shifting the phase of the RF input signalto the power amplifier based upon the phase error signal to reduce phasedistortion generated by the power amplifier; and a low frequencyblocking module coupled between the phase comparator and the phaseshifter, the low frequency blocking module allowing frequency componentsof the phase error signal higher than a predetermined frequency to bepassed from the phase comparator to the phase shifter.
 2. The RF poweramplifier system of claim 1, wherein the low frequency blocking modulecomprises a capacitor.
 3. The RF power amplifier system of claim 1,wherein the phase control loop comprises one or more variable phasedelays introducing a phase delay in the phase control loop to adjust thephase difference between the phases of the RF input signal and the RFoutput signal to be within an operating phase range of the phasecomparator.
 4. The RF power amplifier system of claim 3, wherein theoperating phase range of the phase comparator is approximately ±90degrees about a center point.
 5. The RF power amplifier system of claim3, wherein said one or more variable phase delays comprise one variablephase delay coupled between the RF input signal and the phase comparatorto introduce the phase delay.
 6. The RF power amplifier system of claim3, wherein said one or more variable phase delays comprise one variablephase delay coupled between the RF output signal and the phasecomparator to introduce the phase delay.
 7. The RF power amplifiersystem of claim 3, wherein said one or more variable phase delayscomprise one variable phase delay coupled between the RF input signaland the phase comparator and another variable phase delay coupledbetween the RF output signal and the phase comparator to collectivelyintroduce the phase delay.
 8. The RF power amplifier system of claim 3,wherein the phase delay is set to cause the phase control loop to belocked when the power amplifier operates at a predetermined operatingfrequency.
 9. The RF power amplifier system of claim 1, wherein thephase comparator has a first operating range of phase difference and thephase shifter has a second operating range of phase difference, thesecond operating range being narrower than the first operating range.10. The RF power amplifier system of claim 9, wherein the secondoperating range is compatible with the phase distortion caused by AM toPM distortion occurring in the RF power amplifier system.
 11. The RFpower amplifier system of claim 1, wherein the phase shifter is includedwithin the power amplifier.
 12. The RF power amplifier system of claim1, wherein the amplitude control loop comprises: an amplitude comparatorcomparing the amplitude of the RF input signal with the attenuatedamplitude of the RF output signal to generate the amplitude correctionsignal; and a power supply coupled to receive the amplitude correctionsignal and generating the adjusted supply voltage provided to the poweramplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal.
 13. The RF poweramplifier system of claim 12, wherein the power supply comprises: afirst power supply with a first efficiency, the first power supplycoupled to the amplitude comparator and receiving a first portion of theamplitude correction signal in a first frequency range and generating afirst adjusted supply output based upon the first portion of theamplitude correction signal; and a second power supply with a secondefficiency higher than the first efficiency, the second power supplycoupled to the amplitude comparator and receiving a second portion ofthe amplitude correction signal in a second frequency range lower thanthe first frequency range and generating a second adjusted supply outputbased upon the second portion of the amplitude correction signal, theadjusted supply voltage including a combination of the first adjustedsupply output and the second adjusted supply output.
 14. The RF poweramplifier system of claim 13, wherein the amplitude control loop furthercomprises: a gain control module coupled to the amplitude comparator andreceiving the amplitude correction signal to generate a gain controlsignal; and a variable gain amplifier coupled to the gain controlmodule, the variable gain amplifier adjusting the amplitude of the RFinput signal to the power amplifier based upon the gain control signal.15. A method of controlling a power amplifier receiving and amplifyingan RF input signal to generate an RF output signal, the methodcomprising the steps of: comparing an amplitude of the RF input signalwith an attenuated amplitude of the RF output signal to generate anamplitude correction signal indicative of an amplitude differencebetween the amplitude of the RF input signal and the attenuatedamplitude of the RF output signal; adjusting a supply voltage or bias tothe power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal;comparing a phase of the RF input signal with a phase of the RF outputsignal to generate a phase error signal; filtering the phase errorsignal to allow frequency components of the phase error signal higherthan a predetermined frequency to pass; and shifting the phase of theinput signal to the power amplifier based upon the passed frequencycomponents of the phase error signal.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising the step of introducing a relative phase delaybetween the RF input signal and the RF output signal to adjust the phasedifference between the phases of the RF input signal and the RF outputsignal to be within a predetermined phase range.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the predetermined phase range is approximately ±90 degreesabout a center point.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step ofcomparing an amplitude comprises the steps of: generating a firstadjusted supply output based upon a first portion of the amplitudecorrection signal in a first frequency range; generating a secondadjusted supply output based upon a second portion of the amplitudecorrection signal in a second frequency range lower than the firstfrequency range; and adjusting the supply voltage to the power amplifierbased upon a combination of the first adjusted supply output and thesecond adjusted supply output.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising the step of: adjusting the amplitude of the input signalbased upon the amplitude correction signal.
 20. A method of setting aphase delay in a phase control loop of a radio frequency (RF) poweramplifier system for an operating frequency of the RF power amplifiersystem, the phase control loop comparing a phase of an RF input signalwith a phase of an RF output signal to generate a phase error signalindicative of a phase difference between phases of the RF input signaland the RF output signal and shifting the phase of the RF input signalbased upon the phase error signal to reduce phase distortion, the methodcomprising the steps of: determining whether the phase control loop islocked for a given phase delay to be introduced to the phase controlloop for the operating frequency; if the phase control loop is notlocked, changing the given phase delay until the phase control loopbecomes locked.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of changingthe given phase delay comprises increasing or decreasing the given phasedelay by predetermined steps.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein thesteps have two or more different sizes.
 23. The method of claim 20,wherein the step of changing the given phase delay comprises the stepsof: repeatedly adjusting the given phase delay by a first predeterminedstep value until the phase control loop becomes locked; if the phasecontrol loop is not locked with the given phase delay adjusted by thefirst predetermined step value and the phase error signal has changedpolarity, repeatedly adjusting the given phase delay in an oppositedirection by a second predetermined step value smaller than the firstpredetermined step value until the phase control loop becomes locked;and setting the phase delay in the phase control loop based on thechanged value of the given phase delay when the phase control loop islocked.
 24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:setting the phase control loop to an unlocked condition by adjusting thephase delay as an initial step.
 25. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising the steps of: if the phase error signal is determined to beapproximately centered within its operating range, indicating that thephase control loop is apparently locked, adding an offset value to thegiven phase delay; determining whether the phase error signal exhibitsan expected polarity for a given polarity of the phase delay with theadded offset value introduced to the phase control loop; if the phaseerror signal exhibits the expected polarity, setting the given phasedelay obtained without the offset value as the phase delay to introducein the phase control loop.
 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the phasedelay to introduce in the phase control loop is determined for aplurality of operating frequencies of the RF power amplifier system. 27.The method of claim 20, wherein the phase delay to introduce in thephase control loop is determined for a plurality of output power levelsof the RF power amplifier system.
 28. A radio frequency (RF) poweramplifier system, comprising: a power amplifier coupled to receive andamplify an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal; and a poweramplifier controller including: an amplitude control loop determining anamplitude correction signal indicative of an amplitude differencebetween an amplitude of the RF input signal and an attenuated amplitudeof the RF output signal and adjusting a supply voltage or bias to thepower amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal; and a phasecontrol loop comprising: one or more variable phase delays introducing aphase delay in the phase control loop to adjust a phase differencebetween phases of the RF input signal and the RF output signal; a phasecomparator comparing the phase of the RF input signal with the phase ofthe RF output signal to generate a phase error signal indicative of thephase difference between phases of the RF input signal and the RF outputsignal; and a phase shifter coupled to the phase comparator and thepower amplifier, the phase shifter shifting the phase of the RF inputsignal to the power amplifier based upon the phase error signal toreduce phase distortion generated by the power amplifier.
 29. The RFpower amplifier system of claim 28, wherein an operating phase range ofthe phase comparator is approximately ±90 degrees about a center pointand said one or more variable phase delays adjust the phase differencebetween the phases of the RF input signal and the RF output signal to bewithin the operating phase range of the phase comparator.
 30. The RFpower amplifier system of claim 28, wherein said one or more variablephase delays comprise one variable phase delay coupled between the RFinput signal and the phase comparator to introduce the phase delay. 31.The RF power amplifier system of claim 28, wherein said one or morevariable phase delays comprise one variable phase delay coupled betweenthe RF output signal and the phase comparator to introduce the phasedelay.
 32. The RF power amplifier system of claim 28, wherein said oneor more variable phase delays comprise one variable phase delay coupledbetween the RF input signal and the phase comparator and anothervariable phase delay coupled between the RF output signal and the phasecomparator to collectively introduce the phase delay.
 33. The RF poweramplifier system of claim 28, wherein the phase delay is set to causethe phase control loop to be locked at a predetermined operatingfrequency of the power amplifier.
 34. The RF power amplifier system ofclaim 28, wherein the phase shifter is included within the poweramplifier.
 35. The RF power amplifier system of claim 28, wherein theamplitude control loop comprises: an amplitude comparator comparing theamplitude of the RF input signal with the attenuated amplitude of the RFoutput signal to generate the amplitude correction signal; and a powersupply coupled to receive the amplitude correction signal and generatingthe adjusted supply voltage provided to the power amplifier based uponthe amplitude correction signal.
 36. The RF power amplifier system ofclaim 35, wherein the power supply comprises: a first power supply witha first efficiency, the first power supply coupled to the amplitudecomparator and receiving a first portion of the amplitude correctionsignal in a first frequency range and generating a first adjusted supplyoutput based upon the first portion of the amplitude correction signal;and a second power supply with a second efficiency higher than the firstefficiency, the second power supply coupled to the amplitude comparatorand receiving a second portion of the amplitude correction signal in asecond frequency range lower than the first frequency range andgenerating a second adjusted supply output based upon the second portionof the amplitude correction signal, the adjusted supply voltageincluding a combination of the first adjusted supply output and thesecond adjusted supply output.
 37. The RF power amplifier system ofclaim 36, wherein the amplitude control loop further comprises: a gaincontrol module coupled to the amplitude comparator and receiving theamplitude correction signal to generate a gain control signal; and avariable gain amplifier coupled to the gain control module, the variablegain amplifier adjusting the amplitude of the RF input signal to thepower amplifier based upon the gain control signal.
 38. A method ofcontrolling a power amplifier receiving and amplifying a radio frequency(RF) input signal to generate an RF output signal, the method comprisingthe steps of: comparing an amplitude of the RF input signal with anattenuated amplitude of the RF output signal to generate an amplitudecorrection signal indicative of an amplitude difference between theamplitude of the RF input signal and the attenuated amplitude of the RFoutput signal; adjusting a supply voltage or bias to the power amplifierbased upon the amplitude correction signal; introducing a relative phasedelay between the RF input signal and the RF output signal to adjust aphase difference between phases of the RF input signal and the RF outputsignal to be within a predetermined phase range; comparing a phase ofthe RF input signal with a phase of the RF output signal with theintroduced relative phase delay to generate a phase error signal; andshifting the phase of the RF input signal to the power amplifier basedupon the phase error signal.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein thepredetermined phase range is approximately ±90 degrees about a centerpoint.
 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of comparing anamplitude comprises the steps of: generating a first adjusted supplyoutput based upon a first portion of the amplitude correction signal ina first frequency range; generating a second adjusted supply outputbased upon a second portion of the amplitude correction signal in asecond frequency range lower than the first frequency range; andadjusting the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon acombination of the first adjusted supply output and the second adjustedsupply output.
 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the stepof: adjusting the amplitude of the input signal based upon the amplitudecorrection signal.